Hurricane Prompts School Closures

St. Charles schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday and Jefferson Parish schools will close Monday, officials announced. New Orleans public schools will close on Monday if Mayor Ray Nagin orders an evacuation. "We'll make decisions on the rest of the week based on the storm and the damage, " said spokeswoman Pat Bowers.

Tulane University will close at 5 p.m. today and encourage students to evacuate, including about 1,700 first-year students arriving from all around the world for a now-cancelled student orientation. Classes will resume Thursday. Employees must report Wednesday, officials said. Essential employees should contact their supervisor.